Life Lab (based in Santa Cruz, CA) is a national leader in the garden-based learning movement and has been around for over 35 years. Lifelab offers educational resources, professional development opportunities, curriculum activity guides, and more!

What started out in Haywood county at a local middle school has now branched out to over 9,000 schools all around the country! ASAP provides garden based curriculum that aligns with standards as well as a variety of resources that can be utilized for your school garden program.​

NC Ag in the classroom offers standards-based curriculum for grades K-8. Partnering with several organizations, they offer a “Book of the Month” program where they send agricultural themed picture books to your classroom ($5/month per book) as well as related activities that can be incorporated into lesson plans for all grades.

Curriculum and Lesson Plans

The Growing Classroom: Garden-Based Science and Nutrition Activity Guide* Developed by Life Lab

Containing over 150 lesson plans and outdoor activities geared towards children of all ages, this book is a terrific resource for any educator looking to introduce gardening to their students. Topics covered in the book include garden ecology, group problem solving and critical thinking, plant physiology, weather, math, healthy eating, and more!

Sowing the Seeds of Wonder: Discovering the Garden in Early Childhood Education* Developed by Life Lab

This book follows the framework of The Growing Classroom, but lessons are catered to a younger audience. Early childhood educators will find a plethora of hands on activities that can be used to engage young children with the outdoors and gardening.​

Lettuce Learn Library

Garden-themed children’s books, curriculum guides and books on sustainability education are available for rent through Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture. If you would like to check out a book or browse our library, come by our office (Lower Level, 171 Grand Blvd, Boone, NC 28607) from 10-4, M-F or email luci@brwia.org.

Books for educators

Learning Gardens and Sustainability Education: Bringing Life to Schools and Schools to Life Dilafruz R. Williams & Jonathan D. Brown

Written by two education and garden experts, this book is a great resource for school garden educators. Using soil as a metaphor, the authors discuss school gardens as one potential solution to address social, ecological, and educational issues within our society.